Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-03


been issued from time to time since first
discoveries were made, there at present
remains no doubt, among those well
informed, Of the vast riches awaiting
development ofthis monarch metal.
The entire world supply in the past
has been contributed by different
tries, about as follows: East India 1900
tons, England 1900 tons, Peru 1900
tons, and some smaller quantities from
Saxony, Bohemia, Spain and Australia.
The total annual output of the world
being from II 900 to $1,000 tons.
The amount Of plate tin manufactured
by foreign countries and sold in the
United States is Of vast proportions. The
estimated grand total value of pig tin
And plate tin shipped TO this country is
nearly forty million dollarsfper annum.
Taking this immense business into
consideration it is Of the utmost i'm
portance that these newly-discovered
tin deposits should be developed and
the richness of these mining properties
be made to contribute to the COM
mercial wealth Of this country.
The deposits at present discovered
are situated in Dakota and known as
the Black Hills district, near Custer
City, the county seat Of Custer county.
They are known more particularly as
Harvey. Hill City, Custer and Warren
Gulch districts. the latter being about
seven miles west from Custer City, and
regarded as bearing the richest ores yet
found.
The formations are gneissen rock,
slate and a kind Of black granite. True
fissuse lodges contain the rich deposits
of cassiterites, crystals being very fire.
quent the size Of a small egg.
The ore from the Black Hills district
Is what is called free milling, being pure
cassiterite, while the foreign ores are
refractory, carrying wolfram, bismuth
and arsenic and, is mined as much for
the two latter minerals as for the tin.
The process of treating the tin ores Of
this country is very simple. Concen-
trating and smelling being done with
little or no trouble, and requiring com
paratively simple and inexpensive
plants. The foreign ores, especially at
Cornwall, are mined from the depth of
some 1000 feet, while the deposits in
the Hills can be blasted from the snr-
face Of the mountain aud passed directly
into the mills. The entire range APP
parently is one vast bed Of ore. The
Tin Mountain claim for instance is es
timated to have 100000 tons of ore in
sight. Taking the mining of our ores
into consideration, also the treatment of
same as compared with the refractory
foreign ores, the expense Of obtaining
the metallic tin is at least one half in
favor of our mines.
The metallic tin Of the Hills is of
very pure quality--it carries a small per
cent of silver, not sufficient to pay for
extracting, but enough to give the tin
a peculiar bright luster which in appear
ance is far superior to the Cornwall
product. Some of the principal mines
of the Warren Gulch district land this
district shows larger bodies of ore than
those elsewhere) are Tin Mountain.
Wallace, Tempest, Dolphin, Pig Tin,
Cable Tin, Oregon and Ontario. The
former has recently been sold to a
Chicago syndicate who will commence
work at once. The plant being nearly
completed.
Before buying the Tin Mountain
property and organizing a company to
work the mine. two Of the interested
parties investigated for themselves,
making a journey to the Hills and blast
ed from the mountain some 10000 lbs of
ore, sacked and shipped it to Chicago
where it was treated. The result show
ed nearly 80 per CEN metallic tin to the
ton of ore. u
Chicago capitalists are alive to the
importance of the development of these
tin properties. realizing the fact that
business Of immense proportions will be
built up here in this industry, making
Chicago not only headquarters for the
pig tin supply of the world, but also
being the market for the manufacture Of
plate tin, an industry which is sure to
follow the mining of metallic tin. The
resources of this magnificent deposit of
mineral, the worth ofwhich, to Chicago,
the most enterprising city of The Union,
can hardly be estimated, and the bust
ness men here fully appreciate their in
terests in this direction.
The Tin Mountain Company, Of Chi
cago, recently organized by some Of our
representative citizens is the commence
mencement Of the active interest in the
tin mining enterprises, and is closely
followed by the meeting ofother money
ed men, with a. view Of organizing a
company to develope and mine other
rich property in near vicinity of the
Tin Mountain works. The last organ
iSation we learn is not yet completed,
but will be in shape to commence bust
ness in the near future, and in addition
10 the plant for mining and smelling